Books to Read in Summer 2023

Are you looking for your next read in Summer 2023? Here are some of my top book recommendations to fill your e-reader or bookshelves this summer.

Books to Read in Summer 2023

Chlorine by Jade Song

A dark literary novel about a competitive swimmer who decides to turn herself into a mermaid. This is not a Little Mermaid re-telling, this is way darker than that, but it’s imaginative and cleverly done so that it’s tough to put down.

Rosewater by Liv Little

A literary novel about poet and down-on-her-luck bartender, Elsie. Having been kicked out of her flat and crashing at friends in a dead-end, friends with benefits relationship with her co-worker, and estranged from her family, can Elsie claw her way back to life?

Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang

Yellowface is a much-hyped thriller set in the world of publishing, my bread and butter. I devoured this novel and I did enjoy it, but I also see its many flaws. I don’t think it would have been such a big book if it wasn’t for the fact that Rebecca F. Kuang is also R. F. Kuang, the author of Babel.

Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons

This is an untelling of Romeo & Juliet from the perspective of Rosaline, Romeo’s ‘first love’ in the play. Set during the canon of the story, i.e everything that happens in Romeo & Juliet happens in Fair Rosaline, but with a fresh and slightly modernised perspective we see Romeo for the grooming villain that he is.

Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen

If you liked Fleabag or Promising Young Woman then you will love Bad Men. This is a hilarious crime novel and romance about a female serial killer who rids the world of bad men. Saffy is a wealthy, opinionated and talented murderer, who’s looking for love. Like Villanelle on speed. It’s so much fun and has some cracking one-liners.

What books are you reading this Summer? Let me know in the comments below.

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